No one on in the upper levels?

Molisin01 · June 2014

I play mostly at night and chat is dead in the Vet levels 6+, you can't even get a group together to hit an anchor or world boss. The few people who do request help (myself included) receive either no responses or sometimes one other player who is also looking for help on something. Are these areas that dead during the day too, or is there like another chat screen that shows other players on?

Someone once commented on the fact that it was too dead to do an anchor there, but then someone else chatted back that there was a large group that just did an anchor elsewhere in the area. Was this a troll or what's up with these "other" players then?

Slash8915 · June 2014

Yep. Most people in VR levels either stopped playing, are in Craglorn, or are in Cyrodiil.

Phantorang · June 2014

Vet6+ is a pretty empty area, people seem to go elsewhere for their leveling.

Personally Im running around there to do dungeons, skyshards, lorebooks, achievements and the Cadwell quests for the skill points.

I did all the quests in Vet1-5 in Daggerfall Covenant, but couldnt do all quests in a 3rd area, Aldmeri Dominion, because im so tired of all the questing.

Besides, I think its great to have some solo stuff left to do, in a couple of months I might not be so sick of the quests and actually be able to enjoy them.

But so far I've been able to do most stuff, even public dungeons with other players in Vet6+ areas, if there is no other player in the public dungeon, I just go back later, or announce in chat for someone who needs to do the same public dungeon. Dolmens has been a problem since 3rd veteran zone (ca level vr3), but players will show up if you announce in chat.

Alphashado · June 2014

4 things are happening.

1. VR players are in Craglorn.
2. People reached v12 and rolled alts.
3. People reached VR content and unsubed.
4. People reached. VR content and rolled alts.

Sadly veteran zones, especially the v6+ zones, are turning people away for a multidute of reasons. All of which are discussed at length on this forum. Just type "vet" or "VR" in the search bar above and you will have your answers.

fromtesonlineb16_ESO · June 2014

Slash8915 wrote: »

Yep. Most people in VR levels either stopped playing, are in Craglorn, or are in Cyrodiil.

Or they simply stopped playing because (a) they don't PVP and (b) ZOS took the nerfbat to the main source of non-group leveling in Craglorn and many folks don't want to play a game with a 1990s group-or-GTFO mentalilty when it comes to leveling.

Hilgara · June 2014

People will always choose the path of least resistance, even if that path is repetitive and boring (anomaly grinding) it always amazed me that the same people who were complaining that vet questing was boring were the same people running from one anomaly to another just to tag a mob. No risk, no challenge, no fun. it was purely for the XP and rewards. People will endure any crap if they think the rewards are worth the effort. if questing in VR gave great rewards no one would be saying they are boring.

Liquid_Time · June 2014

@Hilgara
Exactly.

I enjoy most of it.. Get bored with one method and then do something else. The only time I felt the need to grind was to get to V levels just to PvP. Since then I have slowed down and very seldom get burned out on whatever I decide to do.

Fuzzylumpkins · June 2014

Even when I was vr 6-10 there was no one in chat. For all I did complete from Glenumbra to Bangkorai, there was never public dungeon or world boss/dolmen groups.

Poorly executed levelling system is poorly executed. So many players were pissed off at being FORCED to complete Cadwells Almanac silver to even enter the last VR zones that by the time we did, we were just running vr10 dungeon grind groups to level out.

Then came Craglorn and there was even less reason to sit around being forced to do specific quest.

Good Game zeni devs on making use of your zones. Imo, if you don't force players in a linear fashion to level your way, they will be more likely to continue enjoying your content.

TL:DR: aye OP, we got jerked around with forced questing and by-passed the final zone for grinds.

ShADoW0s · June 2014

@Hilgara, I agree with this, but also its just about rewards, its about difficulty too. Now before everyone goes L2P on me, let me say that I have also finished all the the quests in the first zones. To me I do not find killing mobs that only do 2-3 different types attacks to be very skillful just because they do high damage. I found the dungeons to be very fun, the bosses are super hard, and rightly so, they have different attacks and you have to do certain stuff to live and beat the boss, and if you dont you know exactly why. On the other hand trash mobs just keep on hitting you till you die, IDK how some people think thats fun, its just a DPS race, kill or be killed. Now repeating this over and over again with no reward make it really slow and grindy in its self.

Tannakaobi · June 2014

Only people I see in VR zones are bots in groups of four.

Hilgara · June 2014

ShADoW0s wrote: »

On the other hand trash mobs just keep on hitting you till you die, IDK how some people think thats fun, its just a DPS race, kill or be killed. Now repeating this over and over again with no reward make it really slow and grindy in its self.

Ok this isn't an L2P comment but its a piece of general advice. When I was levelling 1 to 50 I tended to just go toe to toe with the mobs. I had lots of damage abilities on my bar and just spammed them till everything was dead. I took lots of damage but usually survived.

When I got to vet content it eventually dawned on me that I was doing something wrong. I was dying constantly. Eventually I developed a fighting style that was more focused on not getting hit rather then pure damage. For me, if I am getting hit at all I have messed up somewhere and yes I still make the odd mistake but if I am using the appropriate skills for the particular group I usually survive. (I use outfitter and have about 6 different pre set bars for different encounters)

I also concentrated early on on unlocking any ability that I thought might be of use and as a result I have almost unlocked and maxed every ability I have access to apart from the heavy armour and undaunted skill lines. This gives me an incredible degree of flexibility and I can play as a caster, melee, healer, or whatever the situation demands. This then stops the content from being boring. Every encounter can be different. Each group can be of a different make up. How many caster are there. How many archers. What order do I need to hit them in. Do I use AOE or burn them down one at a time. I've gotten so used to doing this that I automatically switch bars depending on what the group make up is. The Vet content is not boring to me because I never sat with the same 5 abilities that worked 1 to 50. Once one was maxed I tried another one. I never saw the point of keeping a maxed skill on my bar unless I needed to be optimal for a tough fight. I therefore can play this game in almost any roll I want.

fromtesonlineb16_ESO · June 2014

Hilgara wrote: »

This gives me an incredible degree of flexibility and I can play as a caster, melee, healer, or whatever the situation demands. This then stops the content from being boring. Every encounter can be different.

So, before each fight you spend time shuffling skills on to the stupidly limiting 5-skill plus 1 skill bar?

It's fine having got all skill lines unlocked but ZOS designed it to be a PITA to make use of them as the situation requires.

I would agree with your sentiments if VR meant instead of mashing 1-2-1-2-1-3 VR meant "um, I guess I need to press 6 here", "oops, button 8 FTW" etc. but that isn't the case and since each class has at least 2 or 3 'must have' skills there are only a couple up for grabs even if you want to waste time dragging skills around.

The dumbed-down nature of the UI makes what you're describing impractical.

Hilgara · June 2014

fromtesonlineb16_ESO wrote: »

So, before each fight you spend time shuffling skills on to the stupidly limiting 5-skill plus 1 skill bar?

It's fine having got all skill lines unlocked but ZOS designed it to be a PITA to make use of them as the situation requires.

No, as I said I use outfitter. Its an addon that allows you to store pre defined bar combinations and switch them in and out quickly

fromtesonlineb16_ESO wrote: »

but that isn't the case and since each class has at least 2 or 3 'must have' skills there are only a couple up for grabs even if you want to waste time dragging skills around.

There is no such thing as a "must have skill" There will always be an encounter where your must have skill is not required and another skill (possibly one you haven't even given a thought to) is the correct must have skill for that encounter.

p_tsakirisb16_ESO · June 2014

The issue is complex.

a) There are no rewards in V6 area. You get the same money rewards like a level 5-10 (or VR1) character. (1g per mob, 4g on bosses).

When mobs hits like trucks having 4000-8000 HP and on a good night you need 1000g on repairs. Simple V6 trash is hitting light attack just 4% less than a V11 mob on 2100 AC.
While my 2H light attack (blue V6), with 7 buffs and 2000 STA is 25% less.

The 7 buffs. Solar Barrage - Hunding Rage - 5HA weapon bonus - Rally - Heavy Weapons passive (5% Greatsword) - Flawless Dawnbreaker - Balanced Warrion (Templar).

It gets stupid. Our damage hasn't being improved on V6 that much since when we are Level 49 - 50.

b) God forbid if you face two healers they can channel 2000 hp per second healing, or a Harvester that is doing 2800+ damage flat.

That is why Light Armour & Destro staff are the only way to go through the VR content.

c) Even myself who has done all quests, since Rift I lost hope. I do what is necessary. Skyshards, Dungeons and the guests that need to progress through and finish Caldwell main.

If someone needs help with dolmen/world boss, might motivate few people to have a run and do them all.

But took 2 hours last night to find 2 people to do Bad Man Hallows for the achievement and the Skill Point. That explains a lot. on EU Prime time also.

Some people were trying to find people to do dolmens for more time.

Kuratla · June 2014

Luckily I had done a lot of my VR zone leveling pre-Craglorn patch but I saw a very fast decrease in VR zone population soon after people realized that grinding in Craglorn is the fastest way to level. By the end of my VR zone leveling, it was very hard to get even a small group together to take on the POIs.

When I finally moved on to Craglorn after completing Cadwell Gold, I found where the vets were. Really can't blame people for heading to Craglorn to level. It took me, give or take a day or two, 6 weeks to level from VR1 to VR11 (via doing almost everything in each zone from VR1 to VR10) then finally finished maxing to VR12 in Craglorn (which took maybe 5 - 6 hours of grinding for the last level).

Math could be off but if you can get 1 VR level per 5 - 6 hours of grinding in Craglorn, and let's say you are hardcore about it and grind 10 - 12 hours a day, you'll go from VR1 - 12 in 6 days. Significantly faster than 6 weeks (but I didn't play hardcore nor grind but my point still stands).

I'm leveling a new toon now and pretty sure than once he gets into VR1 zone, it's going to be a ghost town.

Hilgara · June 2014

p_tsakirisb16_ESO wrote: »

That is why Light Armour & Destro staff are the only way to go through the VR content.

Keep hearing this and keep responding that I am duel wield. I have the skills unlocked for the staffs and could use them if I want but I prefer not too. They are not compulsory in vet content

ShADoW0s · June 2014

Hilgara wrote: »

ShADoW0s wrote: »

On the other hand trash mobs just keep on hitting you till you die, IDK how some people think thats fun, its just a DPS race, kill or be killed. Now repeating this over and over again with no reward make it really slow and grindy in its self.

Ok this isn't an L2P comment but its a piece of general advice. When I was levelling 1 to 50 I tended to just go toe to toe with the mobs. I had lots of damage abilities on my bar and just spammed them till everything was dead. I took lots of damage but usually survived.

What Vr and class are you player @Hilgara?

For me leveling 1-50 was way to easy, I was most of the time in fully broken armor and only bosses made me have to make armor. Usually I was just recycle armor from quests or mobs as I go. 1-50 for me was just enjoying the questing story line and the beautiful world around me.

FYI I dont find Vr content to be very difficult, its more annoying than difficult. See a pack of mages? You can either go around and save time and a death or you can fight them and get 3 gold.

Its good that you leveled up most of your skill lines before, but I suspect that most people did not and as a result find it hard to use other skills. I was like you and leveled up as much skills as I could before hitting Vr content since I took my time.

Versatility is not really the problem for me its just that only a hand full of skill are really good again Vr mobs. For every pack, its CC the mage/healer until dead, then working on the other stuff. Magicka builds are so popular because you can CC and bust the mob down really quickly with AOE. For me Vr, is not an endurance fight, the mobs hit way too hard for that, you need to kill it quickly before it AA spams you to death, hence stamina build are weaker.

I dont know how you are never getting hit by Vr mobs but its good that you are having fun theorizing about trash mobs, but I rather do that on hard bosses because I know 100% of the time what I did was wrong if I die.

Im playing ESO to have fun not as a job, I should not have concentrate all the time, just because mobs just got crazy buffs on HP and dmg. I love difficult bosses and dungeon, because there is a point to it, you are trying to achieve a goal get that loot that you are looking for, or that achieve for killing that boss. I would not mind the difficulty of Vr mobs if they had different attacks to normal mobs, but its its not, its the same 2 attacks and 1 special attack that they use over and over again just with buffed damage, thus every encounter is the same.

Hilgara · June 2014

ShADoW0s wrote: »

ShADoW0s wrote: »

What Vr and class are you player @Hilgara?

.

Vet 12 sorc and a vet 7 NB

ShADoW0s wrote: »

Its good that you leveled up most of your skill lines before, but I suspect that most people did not and as a result find it hard to use other skills. I was like you and leveled up as much skills as I could before hitting Vr content since I took my time.

.

Accepted but this was a leason I learned after already maxing my sorc.

ShADoW0s wrote: »

Versatility is not really the problem for me its just that only a hand full of skill are really good again Vr mobs. For every pack, its CC the mage/healer until dead, then working on the other stuff. Magicka builds are so popular because you can CC and bust the mob down really quickly with AOE. For me Vr, is not an endurance fight, the mobs hit way too hard for that, you need to kill it quickly before it AA spams you to death, hence stamina build are weaker.

.

Yep, which is why I dropped the stamina build. I still have all the abilities unlocked and can go back when they get round to fixing it but to be honest I actually like the 5l2m combo I am using. I still have 40% weapon crit and 35% magicka crit but most of the magicka attacks are guaranteed crits anyway due to the way I used the cloak machanics
Both my sorc and my NB went through Vet content post craglorn and I haven't had too many problems with normal trash groups of any make up although its more of a challenge on the NB

ShADoW0s wrote: »

I dont know how you are never getting hit by Vr mobs but its good that you are having fun theorizing about trash mobs, but I rather do that on hard bosses because I know 100% of the time what I did was wrong if I die.

.

OK a standard attack against a group of normal trash mobs....
I learned to spam the cloak. Its the best damage mitigation in the game. Even if you are in the middle of a group of mobs they all stop attacking as soon as you cloak. So....Stealth attack the healer (often a 1 shot kill), stun it and do damage until the rest of the group notice they are being attacked (usually takes a second or two by which time the healer is definitely dead) re cloak, they all stop and stand like dummies. Re open with heave burst (guaranteed crit from the cloak + stun from surprise attack. do damage until they all turn to you again. re cloak....rinse and repeat. That makes it sound simpler that it actually is. I use a lot of pre buffs for my buff bar (switch before combat) which also gives me 20% dodge chance and a 15% chance for attacker to miss + more haste and reapers mark so when I take the 1st one down I get healed of any damage I might have taken. I weave in light attacks so to benefit from siphoning attacks and also have mass hysteria on my bar in case it goes wrong and I need to bug out.

ShADoW0s wrote: »

Im playing ESO to have fun not as a job, I should not have concentrate all the time, just because mobs just got crazy buffs on HP and dmg. I love difficult bosses and dungeon, because there is a point to it, you are trying to achieve a goal get that loot that you are looking for, or that achieve for killing that boss. I would not mind the difficulty of Vr mobs if they had different attacks to normal mobs, but its its not, its the same 2 attacks and 1 special attack that they use over and over again just with buffed damage, thus every encounter is the same.

I can honestly say navigating the trash mobs now is no more difficult than it was 1 to 50 for me. True its been a hard lesson and I died a lot to learn it but for me it was worth it.

Bromburak · June 2014

Molisin01 wrote: »

I play mostly at night and chat is dead in the Vet levels 6+, you can't even get a group together to hit an anchor or world boss.

Only some casuals like side questing or collecting achievements ...
Its common sense that you won't find those players at night because its not prime.

For all others it makes no sense to stick around in enemy faction areas after cadwells almanac, no matter what timezone you prefer ...

All i can tell you , just get your skill points and move on!
If you want help from randoms play at prime on US or EU server matching your RL or find a proper guild with similar play times ...

fromtesonlineb16_ESO · June 2014

Hilgara wrote: »

fromtesonlineb16_ESO wrote: »

So, before each fight you spend time shuffling skills on to the stupidly limiting 5-skill plus 1 skill bar?

It's fine having got all skill lines unlocked but ZOS designed it to be a PITA to make use of them as the situation requires.

No, as I said I use outfitter. Its an addon that allows you to store pre defined bar combinations and switch them in and out quickly

fromtesonlineb16_ESO wrote: »

but that isn't the case and since each class has at least 2 or 3 'must have' skills there are only a couple up for grabs even if you want to waste time dragging skills around.

There is no such thing as a "must have skill" There will always be an encounter where your must have skill is not required and another skill (possibly one you haven't even given a thought to) is the correct must have skill for that encounter.

Ah, so you can't play the game in the way you describe without using third-party software. I understand now, I play the game as designed and released by the developers.

Since the game as released doesn't make it easy to switch skills then I stand by my comment that in the great scheme of things there are 'must have' skills that are needed for most fights and in the absence of a built-in mechanism to access them without faffing around they always will be on my single skill bar.

Hilgara · June 2014

fromtesonlineb16_ESO wrote: »

play the game in the way you describe without using third-party software. I understand now, I play the game as designed and released by the developers.

Since the game as released doesn't make it easy to switch skills then I stand by my comment that in the great scheme of things there are 'must have' skills that are needed for most fights and in the absence of a built-in mechanism to access them without faffing around they always will be on my single skill bar.

ESO released the API to allow people to craft addons. The outfitter addond was even advertised on this very site not so long ago. It takes some pressure off them to have people making these addons for free.

Anyone refusing to use addons then complain about the UI are just being stubborn. If ZOS had unlimited resources they would add these capabilities themselves but it makes financial sense to allow others to do so for free.

p_tsakirisb16_ESO · June 2014

Hilgara wrote: »

p_tsakirisb16_ESO wrote: »

That is why Light Armour & Destro staff are the only way to go through the VR content.

Keep hearing this and keep responding that I am duel wield. I have the skills unlocked for the staffs and could use them if I want but I prefer not too. They are not compulsory in vet content

I will tell you why.

Because, you will be frustrated like myself, who has a Khajiit Templar, wielding a Greatsword.

I refuse to use Destro staff and no more than 2 LA.

Call me stubborn, stupid what ever. But is a choice that leads to frustration when comes to attack 3-4 mobs that are sitting together to finish a quest or go 10 steps further.

LariahHunding · June 2014

p_tsakirisb16_ESO wrote: »

Hilgara wrote: »

p_tsakirisb16_ESO wrote: »

That is why Light Armour & Destro staff are the only way to go through the VR content.

Keep hearing this and keep responding that I am duel wield. I have the skills unlocked for the staffs and could use them if I want but I prefer not too. They are not compulsory in vet content

I will tell you why.

Because, you will be frustrated like myself, who has a Khajiit Templar, wielding a Greatsword.

I refuse to use Destro staff and no more than 2 LA.

Call me stubborn, stupid what ever. But is a choice that leads to frustration when comes to attack 3-4 mobs that are sitting together to finish a quest or go 10 steps further.

I am a nightblade with 2-handed sword in medium armor, nearing V8.
I can consistently handle 3-pack now. It has been a frustrating journey to this point. I can understand why people give up. However, I know that V9-10 is another bump, that may make be quick

I do have destro line, but I only use it while grouping.

Sign off near an anchor (in shadowfen) last night. Sign in this morning, anchor, I swear, was still up. Saw one anchor stay up for hours last night.

Pele · June 2014

Molisin01 wrote: »

I play mostly at night and chat is dead in the Vet levels 6+, you can't even get a group together to hit an anchor or world boss. The few people who do request help (myself included) receive either no responses or sometimes one other player who is also looking for help on something. Are these areas that dead during the day too, ...?

Yes, they are dead during the day too. If you want to know why, there are many posts and threads on the forums about the issues with veteran content.

kitsinni · June 2014

The only reason you saw people in the VR1-5 area was people have to do caldwell's silver in order to get the the V6-10 areas for all those skyshards. Otherwise the entire VR Zones would be empty except a few copletionists.

Hilgara · June 2014

p_tsakirisb16_ESO wrote: »

I will tell you why.

Because, you will be frustrated like myself, who has a Khajiit Templar, wielding a Greatsword.

I refuse to use Destro staff and no more than 2 LA.

Call me stubborn, stupid what ever. But is a choice that leads to frustration when comes to attack 3-4 mobs that are sitting together to finish a quest or go 10 steps further.

Nope I'm vet 7 but have a vet 12 sorc. I know whats coming and none of it will cause me a problem.

Bromburak · June 2014

gougefub17_ESO wrote: »

I am a nightblade with 2-handed sword in medium armor, nearing V8.
I can consistently handle 3-pack now. It has been a frustrating journey to this point. I can understand why people give up.

THREE? Frustrating? What are you doing?

Make a video and i tell you whats wrong, anyone can handle 3.

LariahHunding · June 2014

Bromburak wrote: »

gougefub17_ESO wrote: »

I am a nightblade with 2-handed sword in medium armor, nearing V8.
I can consistently handle 3-pack now. It has been a frustrating journey to this point. I can understand why people give up.

THREE? Frustrating? What are you doing?

Make a video and i tell you whats wrong, anyone can handle 3.

I said that I can handle three. What the hell are you talking about?

VR is a frustrating journey in futility. IT JUST AIN"T ANY DAMN FUN.

AND THERE"S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT CAN"T HANDLE 3, because of the OP'ed *** trash mobs. You are probably skirting wearing, destro staff, DK playing easy mode.

XanadoX · June 2014

And don't forget that you can not call for help in your guild when you guildmates have done the missions. This feature is called phasing, and it prevents making groups

Pyatra · June 2014

So, I am a completionist and sitting in the VR9 area, just have Dolmens and a public dungeon to do. Then it's off to VR10 and I will be done. But I will complete the last 2 zones if it kills me.... repeatedly... and it will.

Edit: Redacting second half until I have screenshots, apologies.

Bromburak · June 2014

gougefub17_ESO wrote: »

VR is a frustrating journey in futility. IT JUST AIN"T ANY DAMN FUN.

AND THERE"S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT CAN"T HANDLE 3, because of the OP'ed *** trash mobs. You are probably skirting wearing, destro staff, DK playing easy mode.

Nope, L2P.